TSA Approval (FTSP, formerly AFSP) for Foreign Flight Students: How the Process Works

If you’re a citizen of another country planning to train as a pilot in the United States, there’s a security process you must clear before your first actual flight lesson: the Flight Training Security Program (FTSP) assessment, run by the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This program used to be called the “Alien Flight Student Program (AFSP)” and was renamed in January 2022, though many students and schools still search for it under the old name. At Alpha Aviation Group, with hands-on training in the Miami, Florida metropolitan area at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), we help international students — with a focus on Latin America — understand this step before starting their FAA Part 61 training.

This article is informational and procedural. Immigration and aviation-security processes require case-by-case review: Alpha Aviation does not provide legal or immigration advice. For questions specific to your situation, consult an immigration attorney or contact the TSA and the relevant consular authorities directly.

What is the TSA’s Flight Training Security Program (FTSP)?

The FTSP is the program that requires every non-U.S.-citizen flight student to pass a Security Threat Assessment (STA) before receiving actual flight instruction in the United States. The assessment verifies identity, legal immigration status, and security background against federal databases.

The legal basis for this requirement comes from Section 612 of the Vision 100 law (2003), which prohibits FAA-regulated flight schools — including those operating under Part 61, like Alpha Aviation — from providing instruction to a foreign student unless DHS first determines that person does not pose a threat to aviation security. That same law shifted responsibility for these assessments from the Department of Justice to DHS, which delegated day-to-day operation to the TSA. In 2024, the TSA published a final rule updating the program; you can review the full regulatory framework in the TSA program for foreign flight students, 49 CFR Part 1552.

Who does this apply to, and who is exempt?

It applies to every flight student who is not a U.S. citizen and who will train with a flight training provider within the scope of the rule: flight schools, training centers, airline training facilities, and individually certificated flight instructors operating under Parts 61, 121, 135, 141, or 142 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR). Part 61 schools, such as Alpha Aviation Group, are explicitly within this scope.

The recognized exception is for foreign military pilots training in the United States under Department of Defense sponsorship through the International Military Education and Training Program. For civilian students — the vast majority of those arriving from Latin America on M-1 or F-1 visas — the TSA assessment is a mandatory step, not an optional one, before starting actual flight instruction.

What exactly does the Security Threat Assessment (STA) check?

The STA confirms three things: that you are who you say you are, that you hold legal status in the United States, and that you do not pose a threat to aviation security. It’s a background check the TSA runs against the relevant federal databases.

This screening is in addition to — not a replacement for — the immigration steps you must handle separately, such as your student visa and the I-20 issued by your SEVP-certified school. To understand the consular visa process, the Department of State maintains the official page on student visas (F-1, M-1), and DHS offers specific guidance for international students through Study in the States. If your status is M-1, as is typical for vocational pilot programs at non-university Part 61 schools, you should also review the extension and transfer rules specific to that status with your immigration advisor, since they differ from those for the academic F-1.

Before which course or flight do I need TSA approval?

Approval must be obtained before starting actual flight instruction, not afterward. This has been the rule since Section 612 of Vision 100 established that no FAA-regulated school may provide instruction to a foreign student without that prior DHS determination.

An important change came with the TSA’s final rule, in effect since July 30, 2024: previously, students had to submit an application and pay a fee for each course or training program they wanted to attend. Under the current rule, the assessment is time-based rather than event-based, which in practice means you don’t have to repeat the full process every time you move on to a new rating within your approval’s valid period. The exact validity period for each assessment should be confirmed directly with the TSA or with your school’s admissions team, since it can vary by case.

Are there recent changes to the process I should know about?

As of this publication, there are no confirmed operational changes for students. On September 4, 2026, the TSA published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) extend an already-approved information collection (OMB control number 1652-0021, docket TSA-2004-19147), with a public comment period closing November 3, 2026.

This notice is an internal administrative renewal step, not a modification to the form, the steps, or the timelines a student must follow today. You can review the original document in the TSA extension notice published in the Federal Register. If a later 30-day notice with approved changes is published in the future, we recommend checking it directly in the official docket before making any decision based on that information.

How does this process fit into my pilot training plan?

TSA approval is one of several parallel processes an international student must handle before and during training: the student visa, the I-20 under the corresponding status (M-1 or F-1), and finally the FTSP security assessment. None of these replaces the others.

At Alpha Aviation Group, hands-on FAA Part 61 training takes place in the Miami, Florida area at Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), with North Perry (KHWO) as a satellite base, and with bilingual support in English and Spanish designed for students from Latin America. If you’re evaluating your path toward the Private Pilot License (PPL) or toward a full plan that includes the Commercial Pilot License (CPL), start by reviewing the general guide on FAA Part 61 training in Miami for Latin American students, which covers entry requirements and the recommended order of paperwork, as well as the FAA pilot training cost in Miami by level to plan your investment with these timelines in mind.

Have questions about how this process connects to your specific visa or to the start of your program? Alpha Aviation’s admissions team can walk you through the general process and point you to the right official resources. Contact admissions to get your questions answered and learn the next steps toward your pilot training in Miami, Florida.